Parenting During a Pandemic: Where do we go from here? to take place April 29

presented by Pierce Middle School Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

Early in the winter, the Pierce diversity, equity and inclusion committee held several “family forums” as opportunities to bring parents and guardians together around their children’s experiences with school up to that point in the school year. Lots of gratitude was shared for all of the time and care that the district has put into creating high quality learning experiences for students especially in the face of all of the challenges that have been encountered.

Additionally, the forums surfaced a number of themes that highlighted the difficulties that parents and guardians have experienced as they navigate parenting during a time of a pandemic, managing hybrid and remote learning, dealing with the loss of opportunities for social connections, and seeking a greater sense of community and belonging.

In response to the ideas and opportunities that emerged from the family forums, we are pleased to invite all MPS parents, guardians and caregivers to attend several virtual workshops on a variety of topics. Each workshop will be facilitated by a panel of professionals with a broad range of experience and expertise in supporting families, children, and educators.

Workshop #1: Parenting During a Pandemic: Where do we go from here?

The past year has presented challenges to our wellness and well-being. The impact of the pandemic on our lives – school closures, hybrid and remote learning, loss of social connections, illness and loss of loved ones – has weighed on everyone in one way or another. This workshop will be an opportunity to reflect on our experiences and learn strategies for self-care, self-regulation, and stress reduction.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 29th, from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Zoom link to follow). Panelists will include Ali Smith, Dahyana Schlosser RN, M.Ed, Marla Murasko, and Jane Spitzer. Information about each panelist can be found below.

Please click here to register for the workshop.

Panelists:

Ali Smith: Holistic Life Foundation: https://hlfinc.org/about-us/our-team/
Dahyana Schlosser: http://therapytoyou.org/dahyana_schlosser/
Marla Murasko: https://marlamuraskospeaker.com/
Jane Spitzer: https://www.facebook.com/tendermothercareconcierge

Workshop #2: Healing Racial Trauma: Self-Care for Mind, Body and Spirit

The impact of the pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and BIPOC families. This workshop will be a forum for parents, caregivers and students to discuss the impact of Coronavirus and racial tensions in America.The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 12th, from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (Zoom link to follow). The workshop will be led by Atman Smith from the Holistic Life Foundation.

Please click here to register for the workshop.

Panelists:

Atman Smith, Holistic Life Foundation: https://hlfinc.org/about-us/our-team/
Nneka Hall: https://www.ppdcommission.com/hall
Dahyana Schlosser: http://therapytoyou.org/dahyana_schlosser/
Tiffany York: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-york-a0a8b240/

Plans remain in the works for additional workshops for families later this spring and into next fall. More details will follow soon.

A number of groups and individuals have made these unique opportunities available to the Milton community. The Pierce DEI committee is grateful for its partnership with Milton community member and Tucker parent Timoria McQueen Saba for her support and guidance in organizing these workshops. The Pierce DEI committee also wishes to thank the PTO organizations at Pierce, Tucker, Glover, and Cunningham for their financial support for this spring’s programming.